Department Mission and Program Objectives

The Department of Political Science is committed to excellence in research and scholarship, graduate student training, undergraduate teaching and learning, public outreach, and the promotion of responsible citizenship. It contributes to the generation of knowledge about politics and aims to deepen scholarly and public understanding of political institutions and the citizenry. The department seeks to prepare students for successful careers in government, academics, and the private sector. The Department provides training for PhD and MA students in cutting-edge approaches to the empirical study of political science to produce graduates with outstanding research, teaching, and professional skills.

Program Learning Objectives

• B.A. Political Science
• M.A. Public Policy
• M.A. Political Psychology
• Ph.D. Political Science

1. Upon completion of the degree, students should be able to employ elementary statistics in political science applications. Students should be able to apply hypothesis testing to public opinion data.
2. Upon completion of the degree, students should be able to analyze the three branches of the United States government. Students should be able to evaluate American election outcomes.
3. Upon completion of the degree, students should be able to write a research paper and effectively communicate their ideas in written work.

1. Upon completion of the degree, students should be able to employ quantitative statistical methods to analytically evaluate policies. Our methods sequence teaches students how to analyze substantive policy questions using descriptive analysis, correlation, graphical analysis, hypothesis testing, confidence intervals, and regression analysis.
2. Upon completion of the degree, students should be able to define and analyze a perceived public welfare concern and develop evidence-supported actions that government might take to address it.
3. Upon completion of the degree, students who elect to complete the Capstone Internship will demonstrate career readiness by applying concepts and skills during their internship placement. Applying knowledge gained through coursework in a professional workplace setting is the culmination for students that are using the program to begin their careers in public policy, or for those wishing to advance their current careers.

1. By completing the program, students will come to understand major theories in political psychology and both how those relate to wider topics in political science (e.g., public opinion) and how they follow from theories in psychology.
2. By completing the program, students will learn how original research in political science is conducted and be able to design their own; this includes understanding all phases of research design, such as participant sampling and devising experimental manipulations and survey questions.
3. By completing the program, students will learn how to analyze the kinds of quantitative data that political scientists produce and use, including using the most standard tool in the field, multiple regression.

1. Upon completion of the degree, students should be able to demonstrate mastery of the knowledge and skills required to teach their own courses in political science. They should be able to design and deliver high-quality and state-of-the-art courses that are grounded in the latest research and theoretical developments in the field. Additionally, they should be able to employ innovative teaching methods and technologies to enhance student engagement and learning outcomes.
2. Upon completion of the degree, students should be able to design and execute original research projects that make significant contributions to the understanding of political phenomena. They should be able to apply rigorous quantitative methods and statistical techniques to analyze data and draw conclusions, while also being able to critically evaluate the strengths and limitations of these methods.
3. Upon completion of the degree, students should be able to demonstrate a thorough understanding of the ethical principles and professional standards that guide the practice of political science, both as an academic discipline and as a professional activity. They should be able to apply these principles to their research, teaching, and other professional activities, and to communicate their findings and perspectives in a manner that reflects these standards.